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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Poe ‘ecstatic’ over the signing of First 1,000 Days Law

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Senator Grace Poe was very happy to see her pet legislation—the First 1000 Days, finally became a law which seeks to scale up nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.

Also known as the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, Republic Act 11148 was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on November 29.

The senator said that RA 11148 will provide proper maternal and child health care to prevent stunted growth of children.

“Sa wakas, batas na ang ating pet legislation, ang First 1000 Days! Para ito sa lahat ng ina at bata, ngayon at sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Thank you, Lord, at sa lahat ng nakipagtulungan para matupad ang pangarap nating ito para sa ating mga kababaihan at kabataan,” said Poe in her official Facebook page.  

Under the First 1,000 Days Law, the government is mandated to prioritize the nutrition of pre-pregnant, pregnant and lactating women, infants and young children.

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It will also provide a comprehensive strategy to address health and nutrition of children and institutionalize and scale up investment plans for health and nutrition in the regional and local development units.

The Senate unanimously approved the measure, or Senate Bill 1537 known as "Healthy Nanay and Bulilit Act"in March this year while the House of Representatives passed it in September last year.

At least P17 billion will be needed to implement the 1,000 days program which will inoculate 2.7 million pregnant women against tetanus and diphtheria.

The new law seeks to strengthen the enforcement of Executive Order 51 or the “Milk Code,” and Republic Act 10028, or the “Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009,” which promotes optimal infant and young child feeding and maternity protection.

Several groups hailed the signing of new law with Save the Children Philippines  saying that the measure will ensure children of poor families of access to government’s quality health and nutrition services.

In an ABS-CBN news report, the group claimed some 95 children below five years old die every day due to preventable diseases caused by undernutrition.

The group said there are also at least 3.6 million stunted children in the country.

In its Facebook post, National Nutrition Council said the new law will provide support and training for mothers on how to ensure her and her child’s health and nutrition.

The barangay health workers will also undergo training to be conducted by the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, Senator Sonny Angara said that the signing of the First 1,000 Days Law, calling it “an important step towards securing a brighter future for Filipino children.

Angara said that mothers and their children are now assured of better health care services during the early days of child development with the enactment of “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act.”

“The law aims to improve child survival and development with the first 1,000 days of life from conception up to two years of age, as it would protect both the mother and the child against malnutrition, diseases and even death,” he said.

He reiterated that every Filipino child “deserves a fair start in life that will enable them to reach their full potential.”

According to studies, a human being’s first 1,000 days is the critical window particularly in preventing child stunting and wasting.

Proper child nutrition during this period would not only prevent one-third of child deaths per year, but would also improve school attainment necessary to curb poverty and increase wages, studies further show.

Data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute indicate that chronic malnutrition among Filipino children under five years old has increased to 33.5 percent in 2015 from 30.5 percent in 2013.

“I am confident that the First 1,000 Days Law would boost maternal and child health and nutrition that would provide a pathway to good education and out of poverty, and cut child deaths in the country,” Angara said.

He added that “Child deaths and malnutrition remain highest in the poorest sector of society. We should put an end to this.”

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